Geranium plant named `Amri Light Pink Spla`

ABSTRACT

A new geranium cultivar particularly distinguished by free flowering plant with a mound shaped plant habit, green foliage without zonation, semi-double flowers that are light pink with a rose red spot.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium hortorum Bailey, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Amri Light Pink Spla. The new cultivaris propagated from a seedling resulting from the cross of seed parentMelody (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,006) which has a bi-colored pinksemi-double flower and the pollen parent 4134-1 (a non-patented breedingline which has a bi-colored light lavender semi-double flower).

Amri Light Pink Spla is a product of a planned breeding program intendedto create new geranium cultivars with bicolored light pink with rose redspot patterns, flowers that are semi-double flower form, and a plantwith green foliage.

The new cultivar was created in 1995 in Gilroy, Calif. and has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Gilroy, Calif. andGuatemala over a two year period. It has also been trialed at Okemos,Mich. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations; and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color, thecolors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including the bloom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of Amri Light Pink Spla. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out byGoldsmith Seeds, Inc. in Gilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on11 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse andcolor readings were taken in the greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. on Mar.25, 1997 between 1-4 p.m. under ambient light. Color references are toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.).

The Plant

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium hortorum Bailey.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Height: 10 to 12 cm, as a 4 inch pot plant, excluding blooms.

Growth: Upright branches with a mounded plant habit.

Finishing time: Finishing time of a 4-inch pot from a rooted cutting is10 weeks.

Foliage: Abundant quantity, no zonation.

Leaves:

Size.--Diameter about 5.7 cm.

Shape.--Rounded cordate with occasional up folding between veins.

Margin.--Irregularly crenate.

Texture.--Leathery and pubescent on both surfaces, especially alongveins.

Ribs and veins.--Distinctly palmate, 2.8 to 3.3 cm long.

Color.--Upper side: Green 147B R.H.S. Under side: Lighter green 146BR.H.S. color. Ribs and veins not prominently different from uppersurface.

Petioles.--About 2.9 to 3.2 cm in length, green 146C R.H.S.

The Bud

Size:

Diameter.--About 8 mm.

Length.--About 2.4 cm at time of bud opening.

Shape: Pointed ovoid.

Color: Petals when sepals first divide, pink 55C-D R.H.S.

Sepals: 5 in number, flat behind petals. Pointed linear lanceolate,green R.H.S. 143B in an open flower.

The Flower

Blooming habit: Continuous throughout the year.

Size: Approximately 4.7 cm in diameter, 1.5 cm deep, irregularlyradially symmetrical.

Form: Cup-shaped when bloom first opens, later flattening to shallow cupshape with maturity.

Petals: 5-6 imbricate outer petals, 2.1-2.3 cm wide and approximately2.5 cm long. Several inner smaller petaloids of varying shape. Both theouter petals and inner petaloids are light pink 73C R.H.S. The outerpetals have a rose red spot pattern, 66B R.H.S. in the central region.The upper two petals have a feathered vein pattern, rose red 66B R.H.S.,up to the central spot. The veins are also 66B R.H.S. Color changinglittle with age. Underside of petals are blush white 73D R.H.S. Petalsand petaloids soft and satiny.

Pedicel: Approximately 2.1-2.5 cm in length.

Persistence: Non-shattering flower.

Inflorescence

Type: An umbel approximately 13 cm over the leaves, having a diameter of12 cm and depth of 9 cm, composed of approximately 25 flowers, erect orlaterally ascending.

Peduncle: Approximately 7.5-12 cm in length, mostly 10.5 cm, green 146BR.H.S. in color.

Reproductive Organs

Stamens:

Anthers.--5-7 positioned below the mature stigma, dull red prior toanthesis.

Filaments.--Primarily white with red at the point of the antherattachment.

Pollen.--Orange in color.

Pistil:

Number.--1

Length.--Approximately 7 mm.

Stigma.--5 linear lobes of near equal length, curling back toward ovary,purplish-red in color.

Style.--Length: About 2 mm. Color: Pink.

Ovaries.--At anthesis, densely pubescent with white hairs, oblong. Greendrying to a light brown at maturity.

Fruit.--Will set some seed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant substantiallyas herein shown and described, named Amri Light Pink Spla, that ischaracterized by: free flowering plant with a mound shaped plant habit,green foliage without